Polymers from Renewable Feedstocks for Sustainability
This grant seeks innovative methods to characterize sustainable, enzymatically-catalyzed polymers from renewable sources, promoting their commercialization.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $82,764 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research to develop quantitative measurement methods for characterizing sustainable, enzymatically-catalyzed polymers from renewable feedstocks, with emphasis on materials characterization and commercialization.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens holding a doctoral degree within the last 5 years; applications require prior contact with a Research Adviser; NIST participates in February and August review cycles.
Description
This fellowship opportunity, offered through the NRC Research Associateship Programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), focuses on advancing sustainable polymer science by developing quantitative measurement methods to characterize polymers derived from renewable feedstocks. The program addresses the urgent need to reduce reliance on petroleum-based polymer feedstocks and eliminate toxic heavy metal catalysts in polymerization processes.
Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Chemical composition analysis
- Surface and thin-film behavior
- Physical properties such as mechanical and electrical characteristics
Current efforts emphasize the use of mass spectrometry and chromatography to measure molecular mass distribution and end group composition, enabling determination of chain initiation, transfer, and termination rates. The program encourages innovative proposals that promote rapid commercialization of sustainable polymers.
The research is conducted within the Material Measurement Laboratory, Materials Science and Engineering Division at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD.
